6-methylsulfinylhexyl-isothiocyanate and Leukemia--Monocytic--Acute

The ethanol extract from Japanese horseradish wasabi was found to inhibit cell proliferation in human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells by inducing apoptotic cell death. Separation by methods including silica gel chromatography and preparative HPLC gave an active compound, which was identified as 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (6-HITC). Several lines of evidence indicated that 6-HITC induced apoptosis in U937 cells and human stomach cancer MKN45 cells. Thus, 6-HITC is potentially useful as a natural anti-cancer agent.

Topics: Apoptosis; Chromatin; Chromatography, Gel; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; DNA Fragmentation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Isothiocyanates; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Plants, Medicinal; Stomach Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured; U937 Cells; Wasabia